Unreal Engine 5.1 Endless Runner Tutorial - Part 4: Changing Lanes

Summary

In this fourth part of the Unreal Engine 5.1 endless runner series, we implement smooth lane switching mechanics and add a dynamic speed increase system to the character.

Highlights

Setting up Input Actions00:00:42

Prepare the project for lane switching by duplicating existing input mappings to create Left_IA and Right_IA, then configuring them in the IMC_RunnerDefault input mapping context to capture user keyboard input.

Implementing Lane Switching Logic00:01:26

Create a 'Change Lanes' custom event in the character blueprint using a timeline for smooth movement. This involves calculating the target lane index, clamping it, and using a Lerp node to transition the actor's Y-position between defined lane coordinates.

Triggering Lane Movement00:06:50

Connect the input actions (A and D keys) to the custom 'Change Lanes' event with appropriate shift values (-1 for left, 1 for right). Define the specific lane coordinate values in the Lane Position array variable.

Increasing Character Speed00:08:03

Modify the BP_Floor blueprint to dynamically increase the character's movement speed over time. This is achieved by accessing the character's max walk speed, multiplying it by a factor, and clamping the result within a set range to prevent infinite speed growth.